Optical sensing mechanisms for input devices

• US 9,542,016 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Armstrong-Muntner, Joel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUBEDI, DEEPROSE D
• Application Number:
  US14/026,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345173-175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A computer or other electronic device including a processor and an input device, such as a track pad. The track pad being in communication with the processor and including a movable surface, a light source in communication with the processor, and an optical sensor in selective optical communication with the light source and in communication with the processor. The optical sensor detects movement of the movable surface by receiving light from the light source.

Claims

1. An input device for an electronic device, comprising:

a user input surface for receiving a force input, the user input surface movably connected to a substrate and configured to move relative to an enclosure of the electronic device;

at least one light sensor operably connected to one of the user input surface or the substrate; and

a light source in selective communication with the at least one light sensor;

wherein

when the user input surface is in a first position the at least one light sensor receives a first value of light from the light source;

when the user input surface is in a second position the at least one light sensor receives a second value of light from the light source;

a difference between the first value of light and the second value of light is calculated by a processor operatively connected to the light source;

the calculated difference is correlated to a magnitude of the force input by the processor; and

the magnitude is provided to the electronic device.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising at least one light blocking member operably connected to one of the substrate or the user input surface, wherein as the user input surface moves from the first position to the second position, the at least one light blocking member selectively blocks communication between the light source and the at least one light sensor.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the at least one light blocking member extends upwards from the substrate towards the user input surface.

4. The input device of claim 2, wherein the at least one light blocking member is operably connected to the user input surface and moves with the user input surface as the user input surface transitions from the first position to the second position.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the at least one light blocking member defines a transmission window, and in the first position of the user input surface the transmission window is directly aligned with the at least one light sensor and in the second position of the user input surface the transmission window is misaligned with the at least one light sensor.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the transmission window has a first width at a first end and a second width at a second end.

7. The input device of claim 2, further comprising at least one light directing member in optical communication with the light source and the at least one light sensor.

8. The input device of claim 7, wherein the at least one light directing member is at least one of a mirror, prism, or light guide.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the user input surface includes a trackable feature.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the trackable feature is a pattern on the bottom surface.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the trackable feature includes at least one coded feature that provides data to the at least one light sensor regarding a position of the user input surface.

12. The input device of claim 9, wherein the trackable feature is a non-planar surface.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser or a light emitting diode.

23. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a leg extending from the input surface, the leg coupled to the substrate.

24. The input device of claim 23, further comprising a resilient biasing member positioned between the substrate and the leg, the resilient biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to retain the user input surface in the first position.

25. The input device of claim 24, wherein the biasing member compresses in response to the force input.

14. A computer comprising:

a processor; and

a track pad in communication with the processor, the track pad comprising;

a movable surface configured to move relative to an exterior surface of an enclosure of the computer;

a light source in communication with the processor; and

an optical sensor in selective optical communication with the light source and in communication with the processor;

wherein

the optical sensor receives a first value of light and a second value of light from the light source;

the processor calculates a difference between the first value of light and the second value of light corresponding to a displacement of the movable surface; and

the processor correlates the difference to a magnitude of force input applied to the movable surface.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein:

at the movable surface moves due to a user providing a user input force; and

at least one of the first value of light or the second value of light received by the optical sensor from the light source varies in response to the user input force.

16. The computer of claim 14, wherein the movable surface further comprises at least one trackable feature, wherein the optical sensor captures light reflected from the trackable feature to detect the displacement of the movable surface.

17. The computer of claim 14, wherein the track pad further comprises at least one light blocking member, wherein as the movable surface moves due to a user input force, the at least one light blocking member selectively blocks or allows light from the light source to reach the optical sensor.

26. The computer of claim 14, wherein the movable surface is disposed at least partially within an aperture defined in the enclosure.

27. The computer of claim 14, the track pad further comprising:

a leg extending from a bottom portion of the movable surface toward a substrate;

a biasing member coupled to the substrate, the biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to the movable surface to retain the movable surface in a first position relative to the exterior surface of the enclosure.

28. The computer of claim 27, wherein:

the optical sensor is coupled to the enclosure within a sidewall of the aperture; and

the light source is configured to emit light toward the optical sensor in a direction substantially parallel to the movable surface.

29. The computer of claim 28, further comprising:

a first light blocking member coupled to the movable surface; and

a second light blocking member substantially parallel to and positioned below the first light blocking member, the second light blocking member coupled to the leg.

30. The computer of claim 14, further comprising a light directing element in optical communication with the light source and the optical sensor.

31. The computer of claim 30, wherein the light directing element comprise one of a beam splitter, a mirror, and a prism.

32. The computer of claim 30, wherein the light directing element is substantially aligned to a geometric center of the movable surface.

18. A method for measuring a magnitude of force applied to an input device of an electronic device, the method comprising:

emitting a light from a light source;

detecting, by an optical sensor, a first light value corresponding to a first position of the input device relative to the light source;

detecting, by the optical sensor, a second light value corresponding to a second position of the input device relative to the light source;

determining, by the optical sensor, a displacement of the input device based on a difference between the first value of light and the second value of light; and

determining a magnitude of a force applied to the input device based on the displacement.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising blocking light from the light source when the input device is in the second position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the input device is a track pad.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a classification of the magnitude of the force applied to the input device as one of a hard click event or a soft click event.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising performing an operation based on the classification.